Best Practice Case Studies-Case 131 Asset 2 HEENT Conditions and Management in Athletics

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The lecture covered common HEENT (head, ears, eyes, nose, throat) conditions seen in athletes, emphasizing practical sideline and clinic management. Dr. Oseguera reviewed the importance of a focused exam, including inspection, palpation, and a thorough neuro/cranial nerve assessment when facial trauma is involved. He stressed ruling out more serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, c-spine injury, skull fracture, and airway compromise.<br /><br />Key topics included facial lacerations, skull fractures, auricular hematoma/cauliflower ear, tympanic membrane rupture, ear barotrauma, otitis externa/media, surfer’s ear, nasal fractures, epistaxis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, hyphema, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, orbital blowout fractures, dental injuries, throat trauma, jaw dislocation, strep throat, tonsillar hypertrophy/OSA, and sinusitis.<br /><br />For management, he highlighted:<br />- Primary repair for simple facial lacerations, with referral for complex lip or cosmetic injuries.<br />- Prompt drainage and compression for auricular hematoma to prevent cauliflower ear.<br />- ENT/neurosurgical involvement for skull fractures, significant nasal trauma, septal hematoma, orbital fractures, and throat injuries.<br />- Conservative treatment for many ear and eye issues when appropriate, but urgent referral for hyphema, orbital blowout fracture, or posterior epistaxis.<br />- Proper handling and rapid storage of avulsed teeth to improve reimplantation success.<br />- Protective equipment, including mouth guards, headgear, face masks, and earplugs, as key prevention tools.<br /><br />He closed by emphasizing a team-based approach, preseason education, and having an emergency action plan in place. In the Q&A, he advised that athletes with confirmed bacterial HEENT infections can usually return to play once afebrile for 24 hours, on antibiotics, and clinically improving.

Keywords

HEENT

athlete injuries

facial trauma

auricular hematoma

nasal fracture

epistaxis

corneal abrasion

orbital blowout fracture

dental avulsion

emergency action plan